Work

Case Report: Clinical improvement of localized chronic eczema following multisegmental paraspinal electroacupuncture

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Neuroimmune interactions provide a rationale for studying somatosensory neuromodulation in inflammatory disorders, but a single clinical observation cannot establish an autonomic mechanism. We report a case of localized chronic eczema that improved after multisegmental paraspinal electroacupuncture (EA). Case description A 58-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of worsening pruritic, erythematous, scaly plaques confined to the presternal region. Dermatological assessment favored localized chronic eczema. Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and peripheral eosinophils were elevated, and house-dust-mite-specific IgE showed mild sensitization; these findings were treated as background rather than proof of causation. Mycological testing and histopathology were not performed. After approximately 1 month without topical corticosteroids, the patient received bilateral T2–T6 paraspinal EA three times weekly for 3 weeks. Clinical photographs and chart notes suggested improvement. Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores were reconstructed retrospectively. No recurrence was reported over 3 weeks of telephone follow-up. Conclusion This case documents a temporal association between paraspinal EA and improvement of localized chronic eczema. It does not establish causality, segment specificity, or sympathetic modulation.

Source: Frontiers in Neuroscience

DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2026.1905399